By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A LEGAL challenge against bulldozing native vegetation of “very high conservation significance” to make way for the proposed Dingley Bypass has been rejected by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
An alliance of conservation groups headed by Kingston Conservation and Environment Coalition lodged an appeal against the removal of 0.85 hectares of remnant vegetation near Westall Road.
They proposed an alternate route including a road section on pylons to conserve the habitat, which included endangered swampy woodland.
VCAT members Sam Cimino and Susan Porter found despite the removal of “very high conservation significance” vegetation the bypass project was a “net gain”.
“We are unable to find that it is either appropriate or necessary to modify or relocate the bypass as requested by the KCEC.”
The bypass was a project of metropolitan significance, had been proposed for many years and was on appropriately zoned and acquired land supported by Greater Dandenong and Kingston councils’ planning schemes, the members stated.
“We find ‘exceptional circumstances’ apply to justify removal of this vegetation.”
